title: Preparation and characterization of keratin-based biocomposite hydrogels prepared by electron beam irradiation.
abstract: The biocompatible and highly porous keratin-based hydrogels were prepared using electron beam irradiation (EBI). The conditions for keratin-based hydrogel formation were investigated depending on several conditions, including the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), concentration of keratin solution, EBI dose, and poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) additives. The pure keratin (human hair and wool) aqueous solution was not gelled by EBI, while the aqueous keratin solutions blended with PVA were gelled at an EBI dose of more than 90 kGy. Furthermore, in the presence of PEI, the aqueous keratin solution blended with PVA could be gelled at a considerably lower EBI dose, even at 10 kGy. This finding suggests that the PEI additives significantly influence the rate of gelation and that PEIs function as an accelerator during gelation. The resulting keratin-based hydrogels were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gel fraction, degree of swelling, gel strength, and kinetics of swelling analyses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Byoung-Suhk
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Kyoung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Soo-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hak-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D004583:Electrons; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D007097:Imines / Q000737:chemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014935:Wool / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D007097:Imines; D011095:Polyethylenes; C505405:poly(ethylene imine); D014867:Water; D007633:Keratins; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol
keywords: Electron beam irradiation; Human hair; Hydrogels; Keratin; Poly(ethylene imine); Wool